Colt's New Agent 1911 -- Why Can't I Buy One In California?

American Cowboy Chronicles ^ | March 12, 2017 | Tom Correa

[Texas Fossil]





Dear Friends,

Have you ever had a chance to buy something but didn't, then later kick yourself in the ass for not doing so. Well, that's the way I'm feeling about not buying a Colt New Agent 1911.

Why can't I buy one? Well, it has to do with new Colt 1911s not being sold in California anymore. Colt rifles are accessible to residents of California, and so are Single Actions, but not the Colt 1911 or any of its versions including the Colt New Agent.

In May of 2015, believe it or not, the California DOJ's endless list of banned rifles, shotguns and pistols that have been labeled "assault weapons" includes almost all Colt 1911s. It's true, I'm now finding out that almost every Colt 1911 is banned in California.
While I was told by one firearms dealer that the Colt Commander model #04691 is thought to remain on the "approved" roster, I really haven't been able to determine which Colt 1911 is acceptable for sale to regular law abiding citizens and not just to law enforcement. Of course, these pistols are also not to being sold to law abiding citizens with CCW permits who have undergone background checks.
I've checked with a number of firearms dealers in Northern California, and all tell me the same thing. Colt semi-auto pistols fell of the "approved" handgun for sale list, the California Drop List, and are now is determined to be an "assault weapon." To me, this is just a way for anti-2nd Amendment, ant-Constitution, gun control Democrat crazies in California to disarm law abiding citizens.

How is it that the State of California can break the law and legalize marijuana, which is illegal under Federal law, yet at the same time make guns illegal under State law which are legal under Federal law?

When I was studying for my degree in the Administration of Justice/Criminal Justice, I remember being taught about the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It states:

Amendment XIV

Section 1.

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Isn't that what the State of California is doing? Isn't the State of California curtailing my privileges and immunities as a citizen of the United States? Fact is, it doesn't take a lawyer to see the State of California is breaking Federal law. But does that matter to anyone in government, especially in the California State Capitol controlled by anti-gun Democrats? No, it doesn't.
And what does any of this have to do with my wanting a Colt New Agent .45 ACP? Everything!

I took a look at the Colt New Agent and liked the light weight, the grooved sights, the lack of sights that grabs on to one's clothing when drawing it, the standard slim design and ergonomics of the 1911A1 design. I believe that this pistol is perfect for a concealed carry weapon for me as a citizen exercising my Constitutional rights under the 2nd and 14th Amendments.

It is perfect for someone like myself who likes the 1911 .45 ACP and wants one when exercising my rights as a law abiding American citizen. Yes, a law abiding citizen with a concealed carry permit who went through the classes and did everything correctly, include undergo a background check, to exercise my rights.
Fact is, the whole pistol looked to be well thought out. It fills a niche in the concealed carry market which is pretty void of good 1911s specifically designed as carry pistols.

Today, it seems that many 1911s out there are made for competition shooting with enormous front and rear sights. Many of those are not made for quick up close work where one defending his or her self cannot go into a Weaver Stance and take the time to use those bulky sights.

It is just my opinion, but it has been my personal experience that if you have the time that it takes to drop into a Weaver Stance and sight in, than you may also have the time to maneuver away from the dangerous situation. But since the vast majority of gunfights take place within 3 to 7 feet of one's assailant, most have only second to get your weapon out and into action.
Frankly, most folks don't have the time to drop into a Weaver Stance and sight in. Most have to go with just getting a general sight picture. And no, that hasn't changed in over 40 years from when I was first trained for such encounters.



While I love my 1911s, and I don't own any that can realistically be used for International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) or United States Pistol Shooting (USPSA) competitions. The reason is that I do not own target guns designed to be "race guns." I own basic close quarter self-defense guns. Yes, no frills self defense guns like the Colt Series 70 above.

As for the Colt New Agent, it got my attention when I first looked at it as a lighter option to my Rock Island Compact .45 ACP.  While I loved the lighter weight, I really liked the "trench sights" which is a "grove" running the length of the slide. Yes, the perfect kind of sight to prevent the gun from snagging on clothing or even a holster.

And when all you need to get is a general sight picture, the sights of the Colt New Agent are plenty suitable for anything within 20 yards. And like my Rock Island Compact, the Colt New Agent's 3 inch barrel is perfect for easy concealment.

I like carrying a pistol made of metal and not plastic. And no, I don't care that it is a bit heavier than the Glocks that everyone seems to be carrying these days. I know the 1911 and I cut my teeth on them in the Marine Corps. And if you're like me, and maybe learned how nice a 1911 is when you were in the military or shooting your Dad's, or Granddad's, then you really would like one of these Colt New Agent 1911s.

And yes, you too can have one if you want to buy one. That is if you live in just about any other state but California!

And there's the problem. Why should every other American be able to buy one, but not the people here in this state? Frankly, this is all just bullshit and the sort of thing that makes people do things that they don't want to do.

For example, businesses don't want to uproot their workers and leave California, but a lot of business are fed up with the over-regulation in California and are simply moving out. The same goes for law abiding tax paying citizens. Many of us don't want to uproot our families, but many are moving out.

Of course, once in another state that allows one have full ownership of their rights as an American citizen, than they can exercise all of their rights as an American. And that, well that goes directly to why this truly pisses me off.

Why do I have to sell my home and move somewhere else just to be able to have all of the rights granted to me as an American citizen? Why is it that I have to either move, or break the law and buy one illegally, if I want to own a firearm that is on the market legally in most states? And how is it that California can get away with denying me my rights as a American?

No, I don't think this is right at all.

Tom Correa

[DesertRhino]

“...or Colt didn’t submit them for safety certification.”

Likely didn’t submit it. It is tested to destruction and not returned. On low production run items, it isn’t worth the headache. So California just doesn’t get all guns. Even a minor change such as finish or sights means a whole test for that and only that gun.
It isn’t “Colt 1911 .45”, It’s every single thing in the catalogue if they want to sell those things.

[Texas Fossil]

I’m sure the Marines would still support him. /smile

[Texas Fossil]

I don’t know what motivated him to write the article. Have not talked with him in quite a while.

We shared some common interests for a while. Got to know him.

I’m sure he has other good weapons.

[Texas Fossil]

Well placed works.

[Texas Fossil]

hee hee hee

CA regulators? Headshake

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Well-placed works.

Yes sir, it does.

[Celtic Conservative]

Too short, not enough capacity and I don’t wanna take out a second mortgage on the house to buy one.

CC

[Texas Fossil]

Yes. I’m sure all of that is true.

I been considering buying another handgun. Would like something that could have some range and knockdown. Was thinking about a 6” 357 mag Blackhawk. It would shoot cheap .38 rounds and still be able to reach out there. And it will take maximum loads.

If I were going to buy a personal defense weapon right now, I think I would like a CZ 75. Very good quality and accuracy for the money.

[Celtic Conservative]

A S&W L frame 586 (blued) or 686 (stainless) Model “L” , 7 round cylinder with a 3” barrel and fiber optic sight might be a good way to go.

CC

[Texas Fossil]

S&W L frame 586 (blued)?

Good looking handgun.

[atomic_dog]

Funny this should come up just now. The lawsuit against the roster will be heard by the Ninth Circuit this Thursday, March 19. It is Peña v. Supernor (California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms Acting Chief Martha Supernor). Neither I nor anyone I speak with about this expects anything constitutional from the Ninth Circuit but it is being argued by Alan Gura (of of D.C. v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago fame) and will go to the Supreme Court eventually so lets hope Trump get Gorsuch on there ASAP.

FYI, if you have a direct blood relation up or down (parent or child) living in a free state there is a way to get off roster guns by an "intrafamial transfer" that is 100% legal but most FFLs are not clear on the procedure and paperwork and too afraid of DoJ to attempt it but you can find one who will if you ask around.

Now for all of you who say it's just California and you should leave. There's a lot of good people stuck here for one reason or another. Four and a half million of us voted for Trump. You could describe California as Los Angeles and San Francisco with Texas in between. Half of the people in California were born somewhere else, including such luminaries as Nancy Pelosi. So the argument can be made that we helped a lot of states stay red by taking all their progressive riffraff in here. Texas especially owes us a debt of gratitude for taking Willie Brown off their hands.

On the serious side though, you should support the 2A fight here because gun controllers love California. They have a super majority in both the state senate and assembly and rubber stamp courts up through the Ninth Circuit. So they try out all their harebrained schemes here first. They refine them and learn what they can away with and get precedent setting court decisions here and then roll them out elsewhere. Just ask the folks in NY, CT, MA, CO, HI and elsewhere. All the crap laws they're suffering with started life in CA and perhaps could have been stopped with enough support here.

[Big Red Badger]

You have Got to check out the
Ruger Match Champion!

Double action trigger is smoother than some
Single actions!
I kid you not it is a Fine Shooter.

With .38 +p ..followup shots are Painless.

[Celtic Conservative]

Yep, 7 round cylinder, takes either .38 or .357 . I owned one for a while, loved it. The barrel underlug added weight, but at the same time made it shoot point of aim and absorbed recoil.

CC

[Texas Fossil]

I have not been too serious about that purchase. Not nearly as alarmed as I have been the past 4 years.

Thanks for suggestion.

[Celtic Conservative]

No prob. Have a good night.

CC

[Texas Fossil]

You too.

[gop4lyf]

My Colt Lightweight Commander is small enough to conceal and big enough to get needed fps out of the .45 acp round. I love it and my full sized Colt XSE.

[TXnMA]

FRiend, have you been living under a rock since January 1, 2016?

In (at least) two separate posts, you referred to "...It will be the same with open carry when it happens." or "When open carry passes, it will be a mute issue..."

Are you actually unaware that Texas has had Legal Open Carry since January 1, 2016?

http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/Legal/newlegislation.htm

Open Carry

House Bill 910 Effective: January 1, 2016

Caption: Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating criminal offense.

General information:

Authorizes individuals to obtain a license to openly carry a handgun in the same places that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun with some exceptions. (See “Exceptions” below for more information.)

Unconcealed handguns, loaded or unloaded, must be carried in a shoulder or belt holster.

Individuals who hold a valid CHL may continue to carry with valid existing license.

A separate license will not be required to open carry. No additional fee will be required.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you actually reside (and carry) here in God's Country?

FYI, I also find this to be informative:

http://www.opencarrytexas.org/open-carry.html

[Texas Fossil]

I chose the wrong word. Sorry. What I meant to say was Constitutional Carry.

And yes, I probably made the same mistake twice (at least).

I lived in NM for many year, at the time they did not, but now they have Constitutional Carry. I have been watching how that worked out, not a bump in the road. There were some public gatherings where many exercised the right to carry. The newspapers covered it. (very dangerous, because of their expected distortion)

Thanks

What happened? Nothing. And the press soon tired of even covering the subject.

[Texas Fossil]

Thanks.

You obviously are a Colt fan.